Modifying the Backup Copy File Name

When you instruct Word to always make backup copies of your files, the backup files it creates differ from normal Word files in two ways. First, the filename extension is changed from DOC to WBK, and second, the words "Backup of" are added to the beginning of the filename. Thus, the backup copy of "MyDocument.doc" would be named "Backup of MyDocument.wbk."

For some people, it is an irritation to have Word add the "Backup of" prefix to backup files. It can make browsing through a folder display distracting, as it creates quite a few files that all begin with the same letters.

Word does not provide a way that you can modify or remove this prefix from the filename. If you do most of your folder browsing in Word (for instance, in the Open dialog box), then there is something you can do to help alleviate the clutter caused by the backup files. All you need to do is make sure the Files of Type control, at the bottom of the Open dialog box, is set to Word Documents instead of one of the other options. This limits the display to only those files with names ending in DOC, which precludes any backup (WBK) files.